Steam heater for automobiles



gwuenfoz Mar. 27, 1923.

J BASSO, JR STEAM HEATER F 0R' AUTOMOBILES. FILED SEPT.Z0.1921.

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Patented Mar. 27, 1923. I I v ,I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEAM HEATER FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed September 20, 1921. Serial No. 501,877.

suitable piping, tothe water jacket of'one of the cylinders n a manner that will permit the generation of steam to be conducted through the piping to the heater.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character which will have a novel arrangement to cause the automatic formation of steam in one ofthe cylinders of the motor sothat a predetermined quantity of water will be maintained in the water jacket while steam is being generated.

Other objects of the invention will appear upon consideration of the following detail description and accompanying drawings, wherein z- Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of an automobile motor, partly in section, showing the invention applied thereto,

Figure 2 is a detail view of the mannerof 1 connecting the steam pipes to the source of steam supply,,and

Figure 3 is a view of an automatic valve employed in connection with the operation of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, the automobile motor 1 having the four cylinders is of the conventional type and each cylinder is provided with the usual water jacket through which the water circulates.

for the purpose of cooling the motor. The water jackets for the cylinders A, B and C .are in communication with each other so that the water flowing from the radiator will pass through the intake pipe 2 and be conducted through the connecting pipe 3 through the space between the two cylinders B and C so that water is supplied to the water jacket. The fourth cylinder D, however, has its water jacket 4 separated from the other water jacket bya dividing wall, a portion of which is indicated at 5 in Fig; 1. A branch pipe 6 leads from the intake pipe and is extended upwardly to the water. jacket 4,

and this branch pipe is provided with a valve 7 having an operating stem 8 which is connected to anoperating rod 9 projecting rearwardly to a point within convenient reach of the operator of the vehicle so that the, handle 10 on the end of the operating rod,9

may be grasped by the operator to open or close the valve 7 whereby the water may be conducted to or shut ofi' from'the water jacket 4.

The dividing wall 5 which -separates the water jacket 4 from the other water jacket of the motor is provided with a restricted opening which is small enoughto permit only a relatively small quantity of water to pass through when the opening is opened as indicated at 11. A valve seat 12 is formed in this opening, and this valveseat is adapted to be engaged by a valve disk 13 mounted upon a valve stem 14 which is slidably mounted in 'a bracket 15 whereby the valve stem may be vertically ,rais'ed or lowered. The lower end of. the valvec-stem '14 is provided with a float lfiwhieiir'floats upon the Water in the water jacket 4. When the valve disk 13 is seated'in the valve seat 12 the restricted opening 11 will be closed and, when the valve disk 13 is lowered as shown in Fig. 1, water will be permitted 'to pass into the water j acket 4.

A hand plate 17 is removably mounted I on the end'of the water jacket 4 to normally. close a relatively large opening 18 automatic float valve. .g The plate 17 is provided with connections; for steam pipes 19 which lead to radiators, one of which" is indicated at 20. This radiator is of any preferred type which will radiate heat when a quantity of steam is passed'into the heater through the steam pipe. j

1 The operation of-the apparatus is as folows:

When the water passes from the ,radiator throughthe intake pipe 3 it is conducted into the water jacket of the first three cylinders A, B and 'C through the pipe 3 in the usual manner, so that water from the radiator is always supplied to these three water jackets. When the valve 7 is opened, water will be readily conductedto the water jacket 4 through the branch pipe 6 and, of course, the float 16 willrise to close the opening 11 and the parts. will remain in this position'when. it is not desired to supply heat to the heaters. When the valve 7 which is arranged to permit access to the.

' is closed, however, no water will pass through the branch pipe 6, but a small quantity of water will be permitted to pass through the restricted opening 11 by virtue of the position of the valve 13 which will remain in open position as long as the water level is relatively low in the water jacket 4. This comparatively small quantity of water in the water jacket 4 will cause the water to be quickly heated from the heat generated by the action of the 'piston in the cylinder D and the steam rising 'from the water in the water jacket 4 will pass through the steam pipes 19 into the heaters 20' and thus heat the body of the vehicle.

As the water rises, the float 16 will cause the valve 13 to close the opening 11 and it will remain in this position until enough steam has been generated to cause the water to drop to a lower level whereupon an additional small quantity of water will be allowed to pass through the opening 11 and this will continue as long as it is desired to generate steam in the water jacket 4 to be conducted to the heaters. Thus it will be being out of communication with the other water jacket with theexception of a restricted passageway, a float actuated valve in the said separated water jacket, the said valve being adapted to automatically rise and fall with'the varying water level in the water jacket to close oropen the said restricted pasage-way, a radiator, pipes leading from the said water jacket to the radiator, and means to out 01f the main supply of water from the said separated water jacket. I

2. In combination with a motor for automobiles having cylinders and water jackets" for the cylinders, a dividing wall separat+ ing one of the water jackets from the other water jacket, a restricted opening in the said dividing Wall, a valve for opening and closing the said opening in the dividing Wall, a float attached to the valve for moving the valve with the varying levels of water inthe said divided water jacket, a water pipe leading to the divided water jacket, valve means in the said pipe to be manually operated for cutting off the supply of water from the radiator to the said 68 divided water jacket, a radiator in the automobile body, and steam pipes leading from the said divided water jacket to the said radiator.

3. In combination with an automobile mo- 70 tor having cylinders and water jackets for the cylinders, and a pipe for supplying water to the water jackets, one of the said water jackets being separated from the other Water jacket by 'a dividing wall, said dividing wall having an opening, a branch pipe leading from the main water pipe to the said divided water jacket, a valve in the said branch pipe to be manually operated for opening or closing the said branch pipe, a valve including a valve disk for closing the said opening in the dividing wall, a float member attached to the said valve disk, means for holding the valve in position for vertical movement when the water level changes in the divided water jacket, and a radiator connected to the said divided wa ter jacket.

In testimony whereof I aflix my si nature.

JAMES BASS JR. 

